This blog post was first published in Makery by Netta Norro
Field Notes Hybrid Matters is a bi-annual arts & science field laboratory organised in one of the northernmost corners of Finnish Lapland, Kilpisjärvi. We asked Netta Norro, the coordinator for Changing Weathers, for her field notes.
Finnish Lapland, correspondence
This year’s edition brought together 40 artists and scientists from 15 countries to work on pre-selected sub-themes. The field laboratory was organised by The Finnish Society of Bioart at the University of Helsinki Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, in collaboration with the Changing Weathers project.
Hybrid Matter is anything that has a physical and technological aspect and as such is a product of intentional and un-intentional human activity. People with smartphones, networks and trash are examples of hybrid matter. But also genetically altered or a synthetic organism are part of this category as they are of technological origin but biological in matter. Hybrid matter leads to the thought vehicle of hybrid ecology that helps us to expand and rethink our traditional concepts of environment.
What is the way back? We ask Oula Valkeapää, one of the few nomadic reindeer herders left in Finnish Lapland. He replies: “That is not a relevant question. Everywhere is way.” © Netta Norro
Seven Senses on the LandOur senses guide us through the world. Complex ecological networked systems can be explored by employing intuition and technology. Seven Senses on the Land (SSOTL) group was hosted by Marko Peljhan and Matthew Biederman of the Arctic Perspective Initiative (API) together with Leena Valkeapää, whose doctoral dissertation played homage to the Sámi artist Nils-Aslak Valkeapää. The group moved within the physical and mental borders of the landscape focusing specifically on the near-to-extinct nomadic reindeer herding culture of Finnish Lapland, augmented through technologies.
Seven Senses on the Land group with Cartographer Marcos Perez setting the scene of the BRAMOR UAV plane near the reindeer fence built on the border of Finland and Norway. © Netta Norro
Discussing the yearly reindeer round-up methods still in use today. © Netta Norro
Hidden layers of the landscapeWe need technological means to survive in the Arctic. The group Encounters in a Layered Landscape, hosted by artist-naturalist Antti Tenetz, mapped the dynamic system of landscape consisting of interconnected elements of biological, geological and technological origin. The hidden layers of Kilpisjärvi landscape were explored from Neolithic human dwelling grounds to the Second World War sites up to the present time.
Investigating an airplane crash-site from WWII. The vegetation in Lapland grows so slowly that the debris from the airplane molten is still visible after 70 years of being on the ground. © Theun Karelse
Peter’s “Antler-tenna” picked up VLF (very low frequency) and stray electromagnetic signals, natural and human produced on the top of Saana fell. © Peter Flemming
Post-NaturalWhat makes the human-altered habitat attractive, or not, the PostNatural – Hybridization, Intention, and the Alteration of Living Things group went on to explore. PostNatural is the intentional alteration of an organism’s inherited trait, although there are also many unintentional alterations between humans and other life-forms. The group, hosted by Richard Pell and Lauren Allen of the Center for PostNatural History, worked on the terrain to document the organisms that have been altered by intentional practices and the unintentional consequences of habitat destruction, globalization and climate change.
PostNatural group at the border post of three countries. And a GPS track of their journey, taking a note on how the political borders are not always following the natural borders. © Maia Iotzova
Can the landscape speak for itself?By planting themselves into the different raw landscapes of the sub-Arctic Kilpisjärvi area the group Sonic Wild Code, hosted by sound artist Antye Greie aka AGF, investigated the notions of coexistence, communication and interaction in a hybrid ecology. By listening to the land, communicating to the land, analyzing the codes of what was heard, the group enhanced respectful forms of co-existence with the landscape itself.
Sonic Wild Code group scattered in perception mode. Gatherers of sound at the shore of Saanajärvi. © Till Bovermann
The group in its receptive phase. © Till Bovermann
Vegas recording the waterfall. © Till Bovermann
SONIC Nature bumping sensor and mic. © Till Bovermann
Making mushroom music in the lab. © Netta Norro
Mushroom sonification is based on Pulsum Plantae project focusing on bioelectrical activity readings from different types of plants. Using their perceptual skills as biosensors, amplifying the signals to be sent to a microcontroler and to work with them in a process of experimental sonification. You can build your own system by following this documentation.
“Mushroom bumping”, Till Bovermann:
Critical lookingThe Second Order group was hosted by Lea Schick, creative practices researcher from the IT University of Copenhagen. This group embedded their members into the other groups two-fold – critically looking into how the groups operate and communicate, and on the other hand introducing counter perspectives and employing interventions.
Art-science critic Jens Hauser visiting from Second Order group listening to stones. © Netta Norro
Although there are already many immediate outcomes from the work week, it will be the next months or even years which will show what really happened in the nature so empty – yet so full.
“Reindeer Fence, Färist & Helicopter near Čáhkáljávri”, audio edit by Dinah Bird:
Finnish Society of Bioart’s website
Netta Norro (Finland) is project manager at Zavod Projekt Atol (Slovenia), leader of the Changing Weathers European cooperation program.